在過去六十多年裡，發展合作在全球政經學裡是項相當具有特色的領域 ，但在21世紀初卻面臨新的挑戰。發展合作 此一術語指的是在發展援助制度（development assistance regime）核心的伙伴關係（partnership）的理念。這是全球政經裡發展中國家與已開發國家間互動的一種主要模式。發展合作就如同貿易與投資等發展中國家與已開發國家同類的互動都是目前爭辯激烈的課題。相關的學術與政策辯論的焦點多聚焦於有關的有效性（effectiveness）、效率（efficiency）與公平（equity）的問題。 本文主旨是檢驗當前所面臨的挑戰以確保發展合作能達到此一領域活動所擬定的明確目標。本文並無意評論或批判援外政策，而是試圖探討此一南北國家互動的重要管道。

Development cooperation as a distinct sphere of the global political economy is more than six decades old and in the early part of the twenty-first century has faced new challenges. Development cooperation is the term used to denote the concept of partnership at the centre of the development assistance regime. It is one of the key modes of interaction between developed and developing countries in the global political economy. Like trade and investment these interactions between developed and developing countries is the subject of intense debate. At the centre of much of these academic and policy debates are questions relating to effectiveness, efficiency and equity. The aim of this paper is to examine the contemporary challenges of ensuring that development cooperation meets the ostensible goals charted for this field of activity.? This paper is not a review and critique of foreign aid policy; rather it is an exploration of an important avenue of North-South interaction.